COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Dedicated to Crustaceans
The name sort of says it all. John Maier, our Brewmaster, wanted to create a beer that defied traditional style definitions. The result was a remarkably hoppy yet balanced and malty ale that quickly became a cult favorite in our Newport brewpub. But what was it? It was not quite a barley wine and not quite a double or imperial IPA. Who really cares about putting beers into narrow categories? Great beer is great beer - just drink it and enjoy!

Bottle, shared with Parksy and Grippitis. Surprisingly light golden body, with a white foamy cap. Aroma is white grapefruit and metal shavings with boozy undertones. The palate opens with a wave of metal and pineapple, then surges into an acrid, aspirin-like bitterness. The finish is astringently dry with a residue of metal and an alcoholic warmth. I did not care for this the more I drank, but Grippitis didn’t mind it. Parksy was somewhere in between.

Bottle shared by oRos. Pours cloudy blonde with a transient off-white head and a fruity aroma. There is an uncarbonated light fruit flavor with a dry finish and a warm alcohol trail Certainly not a typical barleywine in that the mouthfeel is not thick and the flavor lacks sweetness. Still a pretty good beer.

UPDATED: APR 8, 2014 Big blue bottle pours with a gold to copper body that has some haze to it and supports an off white head. The modest aroma offers up floral hops, soap, malt sweetened lime peel, a slight tropical fruit hoppiness and then a good dose of booze on the back end of the draw. The taste begins bitter with bitter tangerine and lime citrus hops that pulse with resiny bitterness and some malt sweetness. To midway it picks up floral hops and a soapy sensation that doesn’t come across that great. Overall the hops aren’t really working for me and it is boozy and rougher than a barleywine needs to be. At this point I’ll take the yummy original over this.

Draught as "New Crusty Barleywine" @ Rogue Distillery and Public House, Portland
Aroma is quite light with some fruits and malt. Flavour has alcohol, some fruits and hops. Very dry and somerhat leathery finish with lots of gooseberry bush. Too much alcohol here.

Draught @ Rogue Ales Public House, San Francisco. Rated on 17.10.2012.
Pours a beautiful hazy yellow colour with a white firm head. Aroma is full-on hoppy with floral hops and some caramel. Flavour is really intense with caramel, licorice, syrup, massively bitter floral hops, grass and alcohol. Full bodied, thick and sticky mouthfeel with a finish of loads and loads of hops and alcohol. Mouth-drying. So fresh, so good. This is not for everyone.

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